Converting the Formula E car to hand controls is a significantly more straightforward proposition. That's because, like virtually all electric cars, it uses brake-by-wire, rather than having a direct hydraulic connection from pedal to calipers.
"It's basically just an electric signal, and you could put it on a button if you really wanted to, you could do whatever. So for us it creates a wealth of opportunities," he said. In this case, that's reprogramming two of the paddles that lurk at the rear of the car's multifunction steering wheel.
"On the Formula E car there's regen [paddles] on both sides of the steering wheel so the driver can use left or right, whatever they choose. So for me, I'm doing one side for throttle and one side for brake. It definitely wouldn't be my final solution. But to get up and running and for a proof of concept, I think it's gonna work perfectly," he said.
Give him a rookie test
Wickens' goal is a full-time ride in a top-level series, and I can see why Formula E is attractive to him. There's the fact that the cars already use digital control inputs for throttle and brake, although that's also true for GTP prototypes in IMSA. Budgets are much less of a problem—something less true for sportscar racing.
"I've been actively trying to find a way to get a rookie test in Formula E for three, four years, you know, and this is just my first great opportunity at getting one step closer," he said. "And then you still have to prove yourself."
Wickens completed 11 test laps in Portland, revealing some room for improvement with the hand controls. But he was positive upon leaving the cockpit. "It was only a few laps, but I thoroughly enjoyed the experience, and it left me wanting a lot more. Hopefully this will lead to more opportunities in the future and possibly a rookie test. I think right now, that would be the goal for me, to try and get onto the grid in Formula E for the future," he said.
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